The fourth edition of the CMD Food Tour was recently held in Abuja. The food fest, which has become an avenue for countries from Africa, the Caribbeans and Asia to showcase the whole gamut of their tourist attractions and business opportunities, was well attended with guests from the business community, the diplomatic corp, and the public sector.
African countries like Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Cote D’Ivoire, Botswana, Trinidad and Tobago and others, exhibited their tourist attractions and answered questions about business opportunities in their various countries.
The CMD Food Tour, according to the managing director of CMD tourism and Trade Enterprises, Ms. Cecile Duombe Mambo, was conceptualized to showcase the food culture, cuisines, dance, traditional wears, and entertainment industry of participating countries.
The theme for this year’s (4th) edition is: A journey through Africa, the Caribbean and Asia.

Among top participants at this year’s edition are: Tunisia, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Trinidad and Tobago, Botswana, Namibia, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire and many others.
In his speech at the occasion, the High Commissioner of Uganda to Nigeria, Ambassador Nelson Ocheger, said his country has evolved into a peaceful, secure and stable countries as indicated in the key indices of development. He said the country was also ready to do business. His words: “The country is peaceful, secure, and stable, and evidence of socioeconomic transformation is seen in the fields of Education, Health, Infrastructure, Power supply, ICT development, Manufacturing and Agro-processing and industrialization, market expansion, e.t.c The economy is fully liberalized and vibrant. The macro-economic, monetary, and fiscal policies are sound, and the fundamentals of the economy are robust and stable. This has resulted in the exponential growth of FDI in the country. There is no hindrance to the repatriation of profits in foreign currency. Inflation remains in the single digit. The cost of doing business is meager and attractive with minimal administrative formalities. There are vast opportunities for trade, investment, and industrialization. Despite the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism has bounced back to become a leading foreign exchange earner and a key economic growth and development sector.”

The Cote D’Ivoire ambassador to Nigeria Kalilou Traore said his country has much to offer in the area of tourism: “A seaside tourism available to you, with huge beaches, fine sand between the sea
and the lagoon, seaside sites with unusual and varied charms to discover and explore in order to better appreciate this treasure of beauty (Abidjan, Grand Bassam, Assinie, Lahou, Fresco, Sassandra, San-Pedro.”
The Trinidad and Tobago ambassador to Nigeria Wendell Vincent Carlton De Landro, said his country is recognized as a high-income economy by the World Bank, noted that the level of tourism traffic between Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago is poor. He said: “Tourism is another area that is believed will soon develop rapidly with an increased demand for jobs. The Caribbean is a most dependent region on tourism with Travel and Tourism contributing about 18% to its economic output. Trinidad and Tobago receives about 5% of all Caribbean visitors arrivals. Looking at the breakdown of visitors arriving in Trinidad and Tobago on short -term basis only a measly 1% are from Nigeria.” He therefore invited Nigerian tourists to visit his country. He said: “For those who need a Caribbean vacation, visas can be obtained at our office in Wuse, Abuja at a paltry sum of USD 25. I invite you to attend our Carnival the greatest show on earth where you can participate by playing mas with the revelers in the band while sipping our local rum and beer on the streets of the capital, Port of Spain. The Carnival parade is on February 20th and 21st of next year.”
Visitors to the event also watched a special documentary by the Rwandan tourism board on the gorilla naming ceremony.

Botswana’s acting ambassador to Nigeria also spoke about her country. She said: “Tourism remains one of the key sectors that contributes immensely to Botswana’s economic development, it is the second largest contributor to Botswana’s GDP.”
The event saw fashion and traditional dance displays by troupes from different countries.